Hydraulic control for log turners



J y 1954 A. G. GURRIES ET AL HYDRAULIC CONTROL FOR LOG TURNERS S'Sheets-Shet 1 Filed-July 7, 1952 lNvENTpRs AGZGurrzes J H whife J17 arrxs y 27, 1954 A. G. GURRIES ET AL ,684,

\ HYDRAULIC CONTROL FOR LOG TURNERS Filed July '7, 1952 I s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 2/ O H. 6'. 61.212: es

BY J. H. [012222 J]:

MZIWA-ZT y 7, 1954 A. G. GURRIES ET AL 2,684,696"

HYDRAULIC CONTROL FOR LOG TURNERS Filed July 7, 1952 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS 19. G. Guz rz es y JA- wbll e .7]?

Patented July 27, 1954 HYDRAULIC CONTROL FOR LOG TURNERS Albert G. Gurries and John A. White, Jr., Gilroy, Califi, assignors to Be-Ge Manufacturing 00., Gilroy, Califi, a corporation of California Application July 7, 1952, Serial No. 297,502

1 Claim.

This invention relates to the lumber industry, andparticularly to sawmill equipment, such as is used to manipulate the logs as they come from the live deck and feed them to the carriage which conveys the logs to the saw, and to subsequently turn the logs to present a different side thereof to the saw.

Such an apparatus is shown in the application of A. G. Tangemann on a Sawmill Log Loader and Turner, Serial No. 227,369, filed May 21, 1951, issued January 12, 195d as Patent No. 2,665,720.

This apparatus is interposed between the live deck and the carriage and includes loading arms pivoted on the fixed frame structure, a nigger arm pivoted on one loading arm and separate hydraulic rams to control the movement of the arms as may be necessary to properly manipulate any log being fed onto the carriage and subsequently turned relative to the saw.

' The principal object of the present invention is to provide a control system and mechanism for the rams arranged so that the operator has only a single handle or lever to manipulate, thus simplifying the operation of the log loader and turner, as well as making it easier for the one operator, who also controls the movement of the carriage and thus has one hand free for the latter purpose.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control mechanism for the purpose which automatically prevents operation and movement of the loading arm while the nigger arm is being operated, while enabling the loading arm to be first or subsequently moved to any desired position or angle.

A further object is'to provide a system for the purpose which includes desirable safety and pressure holding features so that the system will work eificiently under heavy loads, and yet cannotbe unduly overloaded with possible damage to the mechanism.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hydraulic control for log turners which is practical, reliable, and durable, and one which is exceedingly. effective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts I as will fully appear by a perusal of the follow- 7 ing specification and claim.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a log loader and turner, partly broken away and in section, with the control system therefor shown diagrammatically; the turner and the valve unit of the system c being in their neutral or non-operating position.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional plan of the dual valve unit with the valve plungers in neutral position.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing the log turner as advancing a log onto the carriage.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged plan, partly in section, of the dual valve unit, with the plunger of the loading-arm ram advanced to raise said arm.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the log turner as turning a log on the rotary skids.

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the valve-plunger control device.

Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of said device on line '!1 of Fig. 6.

Referring now more particularly to the characters of reference on the drawings, the log loader and turner, of the type shown in the above identified co-pending application, is disposed between the live deck 1 and the sawmill carriage 2 which conveys the logs as loaded thereon to and from the saw.

The loader includes a horizontal frame structure 3, substantially alined with the carriage, and supporting a turnable horizontal shaft 4 extending lengthwise of the carriage at the side thereof nearest the carriage.

Fixed on the shaft and projecting thence normally toward the live deck is the loading arm unit 5 which includes a central double arm :2 on which the nigger arm I is pivoted adjacent the end of said arm furthest from shaft 4, as at 8.

An upstanding hydraulic ram 9 extends between a fixed pivot ill some distance below frame 3 (see Fig. 1) and another pivot II on arm t intermediate its ends, so that upon extending or contracting the ram 9, the loading arms, together with the nigger arm, are swung up or down about shaft 4 as an axis.

Another hydraulic ram 52 extends between a radial arm l3 rigid with, and depending from, shaft 4, and the end of the nigger arm 1 beyond its pivot 8, being pivoted at one end on arm is, as at It, and at the other end on the nigger arm 1, as at [5; Extension or contraction of ram 52 lowersor raises arm 1 relative tdthe loading arm 6. Ram 12 and the nigger arm 7, being both mounted in direct connection with the loading arm, move as a unit therewith, even though the nigger arm is capable of movement relative to the loading arm.

Suitable manipulation of the loading and nigger arms, by means of the rams, controls the Mounted on the floor of the mill in a position convenient to the sawmill operator is an upstanding single-lever unit i6, hereinafter described in detail, for the control of a dual valve unit also secured on the floor in line with unit [6 and at any desired distance relative thereto.

The dual unit I! comprises a pair of identical valves I8 and |9 of the plunger or piston type; valve l8 controlling the nigger arm ram l2, while valve l9 controls the loading arm ram 9.

The body of valve l8 has a central bore 21] in. which the spring-balanced plunger 2i is slidable; the bore, at its ends, communicating with discharge passages 22, centrally between its ends with another discharge passage 23, intermediate its ends with intake passages 24 on oppositesides' of passage 23, and, between passages 22 and 24, with ports 25 and 26 connected to conduits '21 and 28 leading to opposite ends of the cylinder |2a of ram l2. Passages 24 communicate'with a conduit 29 leading from a constantly operating pump 38.

The plunger 2| is arranged so that when it is in neutral position, ports 25 and 25 are closed off, and communication remains established between intake'passages 24 and the central discharge passage 23. When the plunger is moved in one direction, communication is established between one passage 23 and port 25; passage 23 is shut off from'the intake passages 24, and the other port 2 communicates with the adjacent end passage 22. Fluid from the pump will thus be delivered to one end of the ram 9 and relieved from the other end thereof. Movement of the plunger in the opposite direction supplies fluid to conduit '28 and to the opposite end of the ram, while shutting off the flow of fluid to the central discharge passage 23. Since said passage 23 is the source of fluid supply for valve l9, as will now be seen, said valve cannot be operated as long as valve 58 is being operated.

Said valve I9 includes a plunger 3|, the same as and parallel to plunger 2 and a passage and port arrangement (as shown in Fig. 4) so that fluid from passage 23 of valve |8 may be selectively passed to conduits 32 and 33 leading to the ends of cylinder 9110f ram 5, and discharged from said conduits into a manifold 34 connected by a return conduit 35 to a fluid supply tank 36.

The end discharge passages 22 of valve l8 also communicate with manifold 34 by way of the end discharge passages 31 of valve |9.

A pressure relief or safety valve 38 is connected to conduit 2! which leads to the head end of cylinder We and which controls the lifting of the nigger arm 1 relative to the loading arm 6. A bypass 39 connects conduit 28 (leading to the base end of cylinder I21) and conduit 33 which leads-to the head end of cylinder 9a and which controls the lowering movement of the loading arm 5.

Theplungers 2| and 3| of valves 18 and I9 project from one end of the valve'unit and are there connected to control rods 40 and 4|, respectively, which extend to control unit i6 and which may be made of any length to suit individual installations.

Unit |6 is shown particularly in Figs. 6 and '7, and comprises an upstanding rectangular "framework 42 which includes spaced topbars sadisposed at right angles to rods 4% and M.

A shaft 44is journa-led in bars 43 and in vertical alinement with, and above andparallel to rod 4|. A depending arm 45 isfixed on-this-shaft '4 at one end thereof, and is swivelly connected at the bottom by a link 46 to one end of a horizontal bellcrank plate 41, the other end of which is swivelly connected to the outer end of rod 40.

The plate 41 is pivoted, as at 48, on a base 49 rigid with and projecting from one side of framework 42. Rocking of shaft 44 one way or the other, therefore, will impart reciprocating movement to the rod '40, with resultant movement of plunger 2| of valve l8.

Upstanding from shaft 44, centrally between bars 43, is a hand lever 50 having an elongated fork 5| depending therefrom to the level of rod 4|. This fork straddles shaft 44 and is pivoted thereto by a cross pin 52, and at its lower end supports, on a cross pin 53 parallel to pin 52, a swivel block .54 in which the outer end of rod 4| is secured, as shown in Fig. 7.

It will, therefore, be seen that by oscillating the lever 50 about pin 52 as an axis, rod 4| will be reciprocated to correspondingly shift plunger 3| of valve l9 without affecting lever '45 and, the parts controlled thereby,

Oscillating the lever in a direction at right angles to the above direction of oscillation will rock the shaft 44 to reciprocate rod 45, as above described, without affecting rod 4| other than imparting a slight lateral movement thereto, and since rod 4| is of considerable length, such lateral movement is insufficient to affect valve plunger 3|.

It will, therefore, be seen that .by suitable manipulation of lever 50, either valveand the corresponding rammay be operated as the handling of the logs may require. The construction of unit It enables both valves to be opened simultaneously (by a movement of lever 5% both about pin 52 and shaft 44) but, as previously set forth, ram 9 cannot be operated regardless of 'valve position, while valve I8 is open. On the other hand ram l2 can be operated while the valve 19 is open.

Two examples of the log manipulating operations are shown in Figs. 3 and 5.

In Fig. 3, log L is being shoved across the carriage 2 into engagement with the knees thereon (not shown).

The nigger arm has been raised relative to arm 6, and ismaintained in such position by a return of control valve ll; of ram I2 of said arm to neutral. Valve ll? of ram 9 is then opened to swing arm 6 up, so that the nigger arm 1 pushes against the log. During this operation there is atendency for the nigger arm to fold, placing the fluid in the head end of ram cylinder i2a, and conduit2l, under heavy pressure, since the fluid cannot escape past the closed valve.

For thisreason, the relief valve 38 is interposed in conduit 21 so that the pressure may be relieved from the conduit and cylinder to avoid possible damage to the structure should the pressurebecome excessive.

In Fig. 5, the log is being turned on the rotary skids55 which are a part of the loading and turning apparatus, 'In this operation, the nigger arm is .set into the log at the top, and the arm 6 is being pulled down. It is then desirable that the pressure shall be maintained inthe base of ram cylinder |2a to assure a firm. hold on the nigger arm with the log, and such pressure is thus maintained, without any manipulation of valve 18, through the bypass or cross-over passage39. This connects conduit .33, now under pressure, with-conduit 28 leading to the base of cylinder 12a, so that a constant pressureis exerted on the nigger arm in a direction to press the same down into the log.

From the foregoing description it will be readily seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as set forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claim.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

In a log loader and turner which includes a pivotally mounted loading arm, a nigger arm pivoted on the loading arm for up and down swinging movement relative thereto, a hydraulic ram to operate the loading arm and another hydraulic ram mounted on the loading arm to actuate the nigger arm; a control means for the rams comprising a fluid pressure system including a valve adapted for manual actuation to control the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the first ram, another valve adapted for manual actuation to control the flow of hydraulic fluid to and from the other ram, the valves being disposed in side by side relation and including movable elements, actuating rods projecting in the same direction from and connected to the elements for swinging movement relative thereto in a horizontal plane, said rods being substantially horizontal, an upstanding control lever, a fork rigid with and depending from the lever, a shaft above and parallel to one rod and passing through the fork, a fixed frame supporting the shaft adjacent the outer end of the rod, a cross pin connecting the fork and shaft, a swivel connection between said fork and one rod, an arm fixed with and depending from the shaft, and means between the lower end of the arm and the other rod to shift the latter lengthwise upon turning of the shaft and resultant oscillation of the arm; said last named means comprising a horizontal bellcrank pivotally mounted on the frame to one side of the arm adjacent the lower end thereof, a horizontal link connecting the arm and bellcrank in ofiset relation to the pivot of the latter, and extending substantially at right angles to said other rod, and a connection between said other rod and said bellcrank in offset relation to the pivot thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,047,599 Whittaker Dec. 17, 1912 1,541,712 Horn June 9, 1929 2,234,099 Robinson Mar. 4, 1941 2,365,095 Miller et a1 Dec. 12, 1944 2,392,504 Readman et al Jan. 8, 1946 2,401,258 Livers May 28, 1946 2,571,177 Allen Oct. 16, 1951 

